Sounding board for pianos



Nov. 2, 1926.

T. A. JOHANSON soUNDING BOARD Fon PIANos 2 SheetS-Shet 1 Filed August23. 1922 Nmf.z,19:.e, A .1 1,605,239

` A. JOHANSON u somme Bom hnm muws v Filed August 23. 1922 2 Sheets-Shut2 A fnven7- QMWWW@ Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

narran narrar cette.'

TEUR/E A.. JOI-IAI-TSON, QF ST. CHARLES, LLINOIS, .ASSIUJ'OR T0 THECABJE CMPANY, OF CHGAGQ, ILLNOXS, A CORPORATON OF ILLNOIS.

soUNnING BOARD ron Pianos.

Application led August 23, 1922. Serial No. 583,694.

rlQhis invention relates to piano construction, and incre particularlyto an irnproved method of construct-ing the piano soundingboard andsupporting' it upon the traine oit the instrument.

As is well known to those acquainted with the general principles ofniodern pianoconstruction, the arrangement of the piano strings mest besuch that the correct strining-point of each string will be properlypositioned to receive the blow ot the respective piano-hammer and,partly in order to .neet this reqnireinentand at the saine tinie produceinstruments as moderate in size inay be consistent with the provision ofdeed tonal characteristics, it has been custoiiiry to employl what isknown as an orerstrung arrangement of the strings.

In constructing` an overstruno,` upright piano, it is customary toprovi-de it with a substantially Vrectangular sounding-board and tosecure the edge-parts ot the soundingboard upon lining-strips winchare.v in turn.v secured upon the 'forward tace oit the hack or frame otthe instrument. ally, the string-plate is secured directly in 'trent otthe sounding-hoard and the strings i arranged upon the plate so that the.-ihorter treble are positioned adjacent the upper trehle corner ot thesounding hoard. the longer strinnjs ot the treble section slantingdownwardly slightly to the lett 'troni a position adjacent an upperintermediate portion ot the sounding-board to a position between the.lower middle portion and the lower bass corner thereof` and theotherstrings ot the treble section being arranged in graduated scale tronithe shorter to the long fr strings. It is also usual to arrange thestrings ot the bass sec-tion so that the7 cross over in trontoit thelonger strings ot the treble section, extending downwardly to the right-from a position adjacent the upper bass corner ot the sounding-board toa position between the lower iniddle portion and the lower treble cornerthereof. This overstrung arrangement of the strings with the consequentlocation of the soundinghoard string-hrido-es does not, however, usuallyprovide/the .proper allotment ot' etli'ective sounding-hoard arcas tothe diii'erent strings of the scale, the result etten being anunevenness oftonal quality andresonance. l The principal object of thisinvention is to improve the tonal characteristics ot pianos of this typeand, tor this purpose, a novel sounding-board is provided, socenstructed and supported that the various areas thereoi2 which pertainto the respectively dilerentstringent the scale will beinorefetfectively and correctly apportioned thereto. Y

Another object of the` invention is to provide a novel soundinghoardsupport or senii-cut-olif ineinber, so arranged that it will effectivelyrestrict the proper sounding* board areas pertaining to the shortertreble strings, provision being made against lsuch restriction effectingan undesirable or iinproper `lesseningl oia the eiiectivesoundingboardVareas pertaining` to the ot'erstrnng stringsoi" the `l'iass section. Y

A further object of the invention is to prolvide a novel sounding-boardcut-ott ineinber, so` shapedand arranged that it will cooperate incorrecting 'the apportionment oit the sounding-board areas pertaining tothe overstrungl strings o the bass section.

Still 'further objects ot the invention will. appear from the detaileddescription to follow and from the appended claims.

ln the drawings, in whichan embodiment of the invention is shown- Figurel is a rear view piano;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the string-plate, the sounding-board, and thehack or traine of the, instrument;

Fig'. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 ot Fig. 2; and

(ig. et is a section on the line lf-4 of Fig. l. i i

Referringv now to the drawings in detail. the piano construction `showntherein coinprises'the back or traine l0; the soundingboard ll., mountedin 'front of said traine; and the string-plate l2, mounted in iront oisaid sounding-board..,f

-ot an upright Broadly considered, the frame l() may be of the usualconstruction employed in upright pianos, comprising the treble and bassside frame-members 13 and 11i, respectively; a plurality ofintermediately arranged frame-posts 15; and the upper and lower sets offiller-blocks 16 and 17, respectively, which are loc-ated between andfirmly secured to the upper and lower end-parts of the frame-members 13and 14@ and of the several frame-posts 15.

Also, in a general way, the string-plate 12 may be of the usualconstruction employed in upright pianos, this string-plate being mountedin front of the sounding-board 11 and provided with an overstrungarrangement of the strings, the longer strings of the treble section 18being crossed over by the strings of the bass section 19, ashereinbefore mentioned. Only av few of the strings of both sections areshown, in order to avoid obscuring other parts of the drawing.

A long curved bridge 2O is provided for the strings of the treblesect-ion 1.8, the stringeplate 12 being designed to afford space for theproper location of this bridge upon the sounding-board to receive thebearing of the lower end-parts of such strings; and a comparativelyshort straight bridge 21 is provided for the strings of the bass section19, the. string-plate being cut away to afford an opening through whichthis bridge may extend to receive the bearing of the lower end-parts ofthe respective strings of this section. Both bridges are secured to thesounding-board and serve their well-known purposes.

It will be easily understood thatthe sounding-board areas pertaining tothe shorter treble strings should be less in extent than thosepertaining to the longer and heavier bass strings, and that the correctpositioning of the sounding-board string-bridges within these areas is amost important factor in obtaining the properly responsive, vibratoryaction of the sounding-board.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the treble bridgeextendsdownwardly and somewhat diagonally across the sounding-board fromthe upper treble cor ner portion thereof, and that the lower end of thisbridge, as well as that of the bass bridge 21, is positioned very nearthe lower horizontal edge of the soundingboard. It is apparentthat suchan arrangement of the two bridges 2O and 21 does not provide aproportionate allotment of effective sounding-board areas for thedifferent strings, nor does it provide a proportionate disposal ofsounding-board areas upon opposite sides of either of the bridges.Usually, however, the diagonally opposite upper bass and lower treblecorner porons of the sounding=board are deadthe b 1idges 2() and 21.

neoaaae ened by the arrangement, a cross said corner portions, ofstraight eut-0H strips (not shown and not used in my improvedconstruction), which are secured to the back. of the sounding-board andto the frame. In many instances, these two corner portions of thesounding-board are actually cut off, the board terminating at thecut-off strips, wWhile this employment of straight, diagonally arranged,cut-off strips materially reduces some of the sounding-board areas whichshould be reduced, it also reduces others which should not. In thisregard, it may be observed that, in the construction shown herein, theupper bass corner cut-oil' member is peculiarly shaped, and no lowertreble corner cut-off member is employed.

A curved support or semi-cut-off member 22 (which, as shown, may beformed of laminated strips of wood) is arranged to extend inwardly anddownwardly a comparatively short distance across the back of thesounding-board from the lining-strip which supports the treble edge-partthereof. This member 22 reaches across and is firmly secured upon theforward faces of the treble side frame-member 13 and the firsttrebleframe-post 15. The forward face of member 22 is secured to the back ofthe soundingboard, but not for the full length of the member, the innerend-part of such forward face being cut away, as best shown at 24 inFig. 4. The location, shape, and length of member 22 bear definiterelation to the location and shape of the upper end-part of the treblebridge 20, a most important office of the member' 22 being toeffectively reserve the proper areas of the upper treble corner portionof the sounding-board (and particularly the lareas lying just below theupper end-partof the treble bridge) for ro-operation with the shortervstrings of the treble section 1S, cut-v ting off therefrom the areas ofthe lower treble corner portion, which properly pertain to,'and shouldbe permitted to co-operate with, the longer and heavier over-strungstrings of the bass section 19. Attention is directed to the fact that,through 'the ein! ployment of the member 22, this invention provides fora practicable apportionment of the sounding-board areas pertaining tothe shorter strings of the treble section 18 and of the areas pertainingto the overstrungstrings of the bass section 19, and that suchapportionment results in a more definite, intimate, jand non-interferingassociation of such areas with the respective strings. Fui1- thermore,through the employment of this member 22 and the described eliminationof the usual lower treble corner cut-off strip, the location andrestriction of these apportioned areas are such as to effect a moreproportionate disposal thereof upon opposite sides of y In conne/tionwith this 'last statement, it should be noted that,

CJI

by doing away with the aforesaid usual cutoff strip for the lower treblecorner portion of the sounding-board and utilizingthe additionalsounding-board areas thereby rendered available, andA by restricting theareas f the upper treble corner portion of the sounding-board (by meansof the member 22) from interference with the effectiveness of theseadditional areas, the areas pertaining; to the overstrung strings of thebass sec- 1 n 19, and, in lesser' degree, to the longer s :ings of thetreble section 18 are, in a manner and in effect, moved downwardly to alocation which is more in baclt of the bass bridge 21 and the lowerend-part of the treble bridge 20.

It has been mentioned that the usual diagonal arrangement of straightcut-off strips is not entirely satisfactory and that the upper basscorner cut-off member herein shown is peculiarlyshaped. rlhis cut-offmember 25 (which, as shown, may be formed of laminated strips of wood)is arranged in the form of av compound curvo` the first portion 26curving upwardly and inwardly a comparatively short distance across theback 0f the sounding-board from the lining-strip 27 which supports thebass edge-part thereof, and the second portion 28 curving upwardly inthe reverse direction and then extending vertically upward to thelining-strip 29 which supports `the upper edge-part of thesounding-board. The member 25 reaches across and is' firmly secured uponthe forward faces of the bass side frame-memlier 1d and rthe first bassframe-post 15. The forward face ofV member 25 is secured to the back ofthe sounding-board throughout the full length of the member, andit willbe observed that the arrangement of the first portion 26 is such that itcuts off a considerable area of the upper bass corner portion of thesoundingboard which would otherwise pertain to a few of the lower bassstrings of the overstrung bass section 19, and that the upturnedarrangement of the second portion 28 avoids reduction of the areaspertaining to the upper bass strings of the overstrung bass section 19and does not interfere with the areas pertaining to the longer stringsof the treble section 18. The location, shape, and disposal of the twoportions 26 and 28 bear definite relation to the arrangement of the twosounding-board string-bridges 20 and 21 and to the hereinbeforedescribed apportionment of the sounding-board areas located adjacent thelower treble corner portion thereof, the effect being to assist inaccomplishing the hereinbefore mentioned proportionate disposal ofsounding-board areas upon opposite sides of said bridges.

It may be mentioned that the usual sounding-board ribs 30, which aresecured tothe back of the board for stiening purposes, are continuedthrough and secured to the members 22 and 25, the-ribs being,` reducedconsiderably in thickness Lt the crossing-points (as at 31) and theforward faces of the members being notched (as at the member 25 heardefinite relation to thel arrangement of the two sounding-boardstring-bridges 2O and 21 and to the hereinbefore described apportionmentof the sounding-board areas located adjacent the lower treble cornerportion thereof, no attempt has been made to'speciiically describe thesedefinite relationships, since this invention is not to be understood asdepending upon, or limited to, any definitely stated location, shape,length, or disposal of these two members. The invention is applicable topianos which differ greatly in the construction and relative arrangementof various parts which have to do with the determination of tonalcharacteristics and, in applying 4the invention to such` instruments,the location, shape, length, and disposal of the said two members wouldhave to be determined in accordance with such diieren l claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the llnitedtates- 1. Thecombination, with a piano sounding-boardfwhaving a string-brit ge, `of asounding-board support extending` par ialiy and not entirely across saidsounding-board, separating'v two adjoining` active vibratorysounding-board areas which separately pertain to different portions ofsaid stringbridge, and defining and,apportioning;v the sounding-boardarea lying' between said support and one portion of said string?- bridgefor vibratory co-operation with said one portion of saidstringi;-bridge.`

2. The combination, with a piano sounding-board having a string-bridge,of a sounding-board support extending; partially and not entirely acrosssaid sounding-board between two adjoining` active vibratory areasthereof, defining the sounding-board area pertaining' to one portion ofsaid stringbridge and separatingit from the sounding;- board areapertaining to another-portion of said string-bridge. Y

8. The combination, with a piano sounding-board having a first and asecond stringbridge, of a 'sounding-board support entend-- ing upon saidsounding-board between two adjoining` acti-ve 'vibratory areas thereofwhich separately pertain to said first and said second string-bridges,defining and apportioning the sounding-board area lying upon one side ofsaid support between said support and one portion of said firststring-bridge for vibratory co-operation with said one portion of saidfirst string-bridge, and separating such sounding-board area from thesounding-board area lying` upon the other side of said support andpertaining to said second string-bridge.

4. The Combination, with a piano sounding-board having a first andasecond stringbridge, of a sounding-board support extending upon saidsounding-board between two adjoining active vibratory areas thereofwhich separately pertain to different portions of said firststring-bridge and to said second string-bridge, defining andapportioning the sounding-board area lying Vupon one side of saidsupport between said support and one portion of said first string-bridgefor vibra tory ojo-operation with said one portion of said firststring-bridge, and separating such sounding-board area from thesoundingboard area lying upon the other side of said support andpertaining to another portion of said first string-bridge and to saidsecond string-bridge.

5. The combination, with a piano sounding-board having ribs and astring-bridge, of a sounding-board support extending across and bearingagainst certain of said ribs, separating two adjoining active vibratorysounding-board areas which separately pertain to different portions ofsaid stringbridge, and defining and apportioning the sounding-board areasupported by the ribs extending upon one side of said support forvibratory co-operation with one of said portions of said string-bridge.

6. The combination, with a piano sounding-board having ribs and astring-bridge, of a sounding-board support extending across and bearingagainst certain of said ribs between two adjoining active vibratorysounding-board areas, defining the sounding-board area pertaining to oneportion of said string-bridge and supported by the ribs extending uponone side of said support and separating such soundingboard area from thesounding-board area pertaining to another portion 4of said stringbridgeand supported by the ribs extending upon the other side of said support.

V7. The combination, with a piano sounding-board having ribs and alsohaving a lirst and a second string-bridge, of a sounding-board supportextending across and bearing against certain of said ribs between twoadjoining active vibratory soundingboard areas defining thesounding-board area pertaining to one portion of said string-bridge andsupported by the ribs extending upon onesi e of-said support, and

8. The combination, with a piano sounding-board having a string-bridge,of a sounding-board support projecting inwardly upon said sounding-boardfrom an edgepart thereof, diverging from a line parallel with asubstantial portion of said stringbridge and terminating upon saidsounding-board at the end of such inward projection thereupon; saidsupportserving to dctine and apportion the sounding-board area lyingbetween it and said portion of said string-bridge for vibratoryco-operation with said porti-on.

9. The combination, with a piano sounding-board having a string-bridge,of a sounding-board support projecting inwardly upon said sounding-boardfrom an edge-part thereof and between two adjoining active vibratorysounding-board areas, diverging from a line parallel with a substantialportion of said string-bridge and terminating upon said sounding-boardat the end of such inward projection thereupon; said support serving todefine and apportion the sounding-board area lying between it and saidportion of said string-bridge for vibratory co-operation with saidportion and to bar from such apportioned area interfering or oonfiictingvibratory action of the active sounding-board area lying upon theopposite side of said support.

l0. The combination, with a substantially rectangular sounding-boardhaving an obliquely arranged string-bridge, of a sounding-board supportextending upon said sounding-board between two adjoining activevibratory areas thereof and terminating upon said sounding-board awayfrom an edge-part thereof for barring from one end-portion only of saidstring-bridge the vibratory action of a substantial amount of thetriangular area of said soundingboard lying upon one side of saidstringbridge.

11. The combination, with a piano sound'- ing-board having treble andbass stringbridges arranged thereupon, of a soundingboard supportextending upon said sounding-board between two adjoining activevibratory areas thereof and terminating upon said sounding-board awayfrom an edgepart thereof, whereby areas of said sound-` ing-boardpertaining to the bass stringbridge are separated from areas thereofpertaining to the treble string-bridge.

12. The combination, with the strings and sounding-board of a piano, ofa soundingboard support extending inwardly upon and from an edge-part ofsaid sounding-board between two adjoining active vibratory areas Amithereof and terminating upon said sounding-board away vfrom saidedge-part thereof, whereby areas of said sounding-board pertaining tocertain of said strings nearer said edge-part of said sounding-board areseparated from areas thereof pertaining to others ofsaid strings.

13. The combination, with the strings and sounding-board of a (piano,and with the sounding-board string-bridge for certain of said strings,which strings are of progressively increasing length, of means forapportioning for Vibratory co-operation with a portion of saidstring-bridge the sounding-board areas lying adjacent to said portionand for barring the Vibratory action of other active Vibratorysounding-board areas therefrom; said means comprising a sounding-boardsupport which extends upon said sounding-board a portion only of thelength of said string-bridge and terminates upon said sounding-boardaway from an edgepart thereof; said support-bar diverging throughout itsextension upon said sounding-board from a line parallel with saidportion of said string-bridge, whereby the dimensions of thesounding-board areas apportioned as aforesaid progressively increase inapproximate proportion to the progressively increasing length of saidstrings.

14. The combination, with a substantially rectangular sounding-hoard anda series of strings arranged to extend over the face thereof, of asounding-board support extending upon said sounding-board between twoadjoining active Vibratory areas thereof and terminatingupon saidsoundingboard away from an edge-part thereof for apportioning foryibratory co-operation with certain of said strings the soundingboardareas of the corner-portion of said sounding-board which lie upon oneside of said support and yfor barring from such apportioned areasinterfering or conflicting Vibratory action of other areas of saidcorner-portion of said sounding-board which lie upon the other side ofsaid support, without barring the vibratory action of such other areasfrom others of said strings.

15. The combination, with the strings and sounding-board of a piano ofthe oyerstrung type, of a sounding-board support extending upon saidsounding-board between two adjoining active Vibratory areas thereof andterminating upon said sounding-board away from an edge-part thereof,whereby areas of said sounding-board pertaining to the oyerstrungstrings are separatedA from areas thereof pertaining to other strings.A

`16. The combination, with the soundingboard and framel of a piano, saidframe comprising `two side-members and a member arranged therebetween toextend parallel with and nearer to lone of said side-members, ofv

a sounding-board support secured upon said edge-partsupon said frame andalso secured vboard and frame of a piano, said frame .board and frame ofa piano, said frame comprising two side-members and a member arrangedtherebetween to extend parallel with and nearer to one of saidside-members, of a sounding-board support secured upon said one of saidside-members, extending across therefrom and along upon said member, andterminating thereupon; said support being secured upon said member, andsaid sounding-board being secured about its edge-parts upon said frameand also secured to said support-bar.l

18. The combination, with the soundingboard and frame of a piano, saidframe comprising two side-members and two members arranged therebetweento extend parallel therewith, of a irstvsounding-board support securedupon one of said side-members, extending across therefrom and securedupon the nearest one of said two members, and-terminating thereupon, anda second sounding-board support secured upon the other of saidVside-members, extending across therefrom and secured upon the other oneof said two members, extending along and terminating thereupon; saidsounding-board i being secured about its to said first and secondsupports. 19.l `The combination, with'the soundingboard and frame 4ofapiano, said frame comprising two side-members and a member arrangedtherebetween to" extend parallel with and nearer to one of saidside-members, of a Asounding-board support secured upon said Y one ofsaid side-members, extending in a single curve across therefrom andsecured upon said member, and terminating at the end of such curvedextension; said sounding-board being secured about its edge-parts uponsaid frame and also secured to said support. i

20. rEhe combination, with the soundingboard and frame of a piano, saidframe comprising two `side-members and a member arranged therebetween toextend parallel with and nearer to one'of said sidemembers, of asounding-board support secured upon said one of said side-members,extending in a compound curve across therefrom and along upon saidmember, and terminating thereupon; said support being secured upon saidmember, and said sounding-board being` secured vabout its edgeparts uponsaid frame and also secured to said support. y

21'. The coinbination, with the sounding- Comprising two side-n'ieinbersand two meinbei's arranged therebetween to extend parallel therewith, ofa first sounding-board support secured upon one of said side-members,extending 4in a single curve across therefrom and secured upon thenearest one of said two ineniibers, and terminating thereupon at the endof such curved extension, and a second sounding-board support securedupon the other of said side-members, extending in a compound curveacross therefrom and along upon the other one of said v'two members, andterminating thereupon; said sounding-board being secured about itsedge-parts upon said frame and also secured to said first and secondsupports.

22. A piano construction comprising a sounding-board and having anoverstrung system of strings, the'bass strings crossing over the longertreble strings and extending therebeyond, whereby an angle is formedbetween such extension and the ends of the short treble strings, andsaid soundingboard having a. portion in said angle not overlaid byeither the bass or treble strings, in combination with a partialcut-ofi' 'for the sounding-board lying in said angle adjacent the lowerends of the short treble strings, to make the effective sounding-boardareas for the shorter treble strings approximately proportional to thelengths of said strings, said cut-ofi` extending only a portion of thev4distance along'the lower ends of the treble strings and terminatingVat the end of such extension, whereby the effective soundingboard areafor the shorter treble strings is diminished without diminishing theeffective sounding-board area for. the bass strings.

23. A piano construction comprising a sounding-board and having anoverstrung system of strings, the bass strings crossing over the longertreble strings and extending therebeyond, and said sounding-board hav-Ying a portion overlaid by such extension of the bass strings but notoverlaid by the treble strings, in combination with a cut-ofi for thesounding-board; said cut-oil having a first portion overlaid by theextension of the bass strings and extending substantially transverselyof the longer bass strings, and a second portion overlaid by saidextension of the bass strings and extending obliquely with respect tothe middle bass strings, whereby the effective sounding-board area forthe longer bass strings is diminished without diminishing the eHectivesoundingboard area for either the shorter bass strings or the longertreble strings.

24. A piano construction comprising la sounding-board and having anoverstrung system of strings, the bass strings crossing over the longertreble strings and extending therebeyond on both sides, the extension onone side of the longer treble strings'forming an angle with the ends ofthe shorter treble ing-board lying in said angle adjacent tho ends ofthe shorter treble strings, said cut-- ott1 extending only a portion ofthe distance along the lower ends of the treble strings, whereby theeffective sounding-board area for the shorter treble strings isdiminished without diminishing the effective soundingboard area for thebass strings, and a second cut-off for the sounding-board; said secondcut-ofi" comprising a first portion overlaid by the extension of thebass strings on the other side of the longer treble strings, andextending substantially transversely of the longer bass strings, and asecond portion overlaid by said extension of the bass strings andextending obliquely'with respect to the middle bass strings,vwhereby theeffective soundingboard area. for the lower bass strings is diminishedwithout diminishing the effective sounding-board area for either theupper bass strings or the lower treble strings.

25. A piano construction comprising a substantially rectangularsounding-board and having an overstrung .system of strings, the shortertreble strings overlying an upper corner portion of said sounding-board,the longer treble strings extending from the top to the bottom of saidsounding-board, and the bass strings extending diagonally from adjacentthe other upper corner to the lower middle portion of saidsounding-board across the longer treble strings andextendingtherebeyond, in combination with a partial cut-o'tf for the.sounding-board running adjacent the lower ends of the shorter treblestrings, to make the effective sounding-board areas for the shortertreble strings approximately proportional to the lengths of saidstrings, said cut-off extending only a portion of theV distance alongthe lower ends of the treble strings and terminating at the end of suchextension, whereby the effective sounding-board area for the shortertreble strings is diminished without diminishing the effectivesounding-board area for the bass strings. J

26. A kpiano construction comprising a substantially rectangularsounding-board and having an overstrung system o1 strings, the shortertreble strings overlying an upper corner portion of said sounding-board,the longer treble strings extending from the top n to the bottom of theintermediate portion of said sounding-board, the bass strings extendingdiagonally from the lower middle portion of said sounding-board acrossthe longer treble strings and extending therebeyond'to a positionadjacent the other upper corner of. said sounding-board, in combinationwith a cut-off for said .sounding-board, comprising a first portionoverlaid by the extension iOU of the bass strings and extendingsubstantially transversely of the longer bass strings, end a secondportion overlaid by the extension of the bass strings and extendingobliquely with respect to the shorter middle bees strings, whereby theeffective sounding-board area for the longer bass strings is diminishedWithout diminishing the effective sounding-board area for either theshorter bass stringe or the longer treble 10 strings.

ln Witness whereof, I have hereunto Subscribed my naine.

THURE A. JOHANSON, *Y

